Data Scientist, Whatnot
International
Live stream platform & marketplace for collectibles
Be an early applicant
Live stream platform & marketplace for collectibles
501-1000 employees
Be an early applicant
501-1000 employees
Company mission
Whatnot missions is to enable anyone to turn their passion into a business and bring people together through commerce.
Role
Who you are
- We’re looking for an experienced, globally-minded Data Scientist who knows how to use analytics to drive business clarity, especially in fast-growing, multi-market environments.
- You understand that what works in one country may not work in another, and you bring curiosity and rigor to helping the business navigate that complexity.
- You understand the whole business thinking about how to grow revenue and categories but how also behind the scenes product and commerce implications impact different markets
- You thrive in cross-functional, multicultural environments and enjoy tackling open-ended problems with structured thinking and sharp analysis.
- You love building tools that help people take action, not just crunching numbers in isolation.
- Your work influences how we scale, where we grow, and how we define success in diverse markets
- In addition to 5+ years of experience in the Data Analytics field, you should have:
- Experience supporting go-to-market, sales and marketing where understanding trends, connecting dots and forecasting were central to decision-making
- Familiarity with local market behaviors, such as differences in payment systems, buyer behavior, or GTM approach by geography
- A track record of supporting localized growth efforts in emerging markets, cross-border commerce, or international product launches
- Previous experience working with marketplaces, ecommerce, mobile gaming, or social media
- Expertise in SQL and scripting languages for data analysis, reporting, and dashboarding
- Proficiency with visualization and BI tools (Looker, Tableau, Mode, etc.), not just for reporting, but for building tools others can use reliably
- You communicate clearly and influence without needing authority - business partners value your judgment and seek out your input
- You prioritize speed, clarity, and utility - building tools and insights that the business actually uses, not scientific models that sit on a shelf
- Strong business judgment and a knack for identifying the signal in noisy data with context of the overall business implications
- Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills to stakeholders, leadership, and investors
- Experience working in an environment where you have to balance rigor and speed, knowing when to push for perfection vs. ship and iterate
- Comfortability with data warehouses and big data technologies such as Redshift, Snowflake, Big Query, Presto, Athena, Spark, DBT
What the job involves
- Data Scientists at Whatnot bring technical expertise, analytical mindset and strong communication skills to solve problems and identify opportunities critical to the growth of Whatnot
- Drive end-to-end analysis of revenue and category performance in our non-US markets, highlighting macro shifts and local nuances. Identify and drive deep understanding of growth levers, risk vectors, and user behavior
- Support strategic decision-making by creating forward-looking insights — identifying leading indicators, pressure-testing assumptions, and surfacing risks before they materialize
- Translate ambiguous business questions into structured analyses that help teams understand the “what” and the “why” behind performance shifts
- Build descriptive reporting and insight tools that reflect both country performance and category specifics, including differences in customer behavior, currency, seasonality, and GTM structure
- Create regional forecasts and directional models that support headcount planning, sales targeting, and business growth decisions
- Incorporate data from CX, Logistics, Finance, and other teams to guide growth opportunities
- Become a trusted partner to Sales, Marketing, Account Management, and Category leaders, helping them make smarter, faster decisions based on data
- Build dashboards and automated reporting to support weekly and monthly business reviews, while driving clarity on KPIs that actually reflect performance
Salary benchmarks
Our take
The collectible toy market is large, and Whatnot has built a unique social platform that enables sellers to use livestreams to showcase their products and reach more buyers. The company’s focus is on collectible toys, some of which are rare and can cost thousands of dollars, and has also expanded to sports cards.
The idea of Whatnot was led by buyer trends. Instagram's live feature became a popular place for selling toys and trading cards, but of course was not set up to facilitate bidding or handling payments after a sale occurs. Whatnot combines live showcasing with follow-up sale capabilities, thus serving the community in a more novel way than established collectibles market players such as eBay.
The company has grown fast. It was established in 2019 and has already expanded from its original category - Funko Pop figurines - to Pokemon cards, pins, sports cards, and many more. There is still plenty of scope for expanding into new categories, as the company aims to establish itself as the go-to for this large niche, which will be facilitated by the strong levels of funding that Whatnot has raised.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
54% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 7 rounds)
Jan 2025
$265m
SERIES E
Jul 2022
$260m
SERIES D
Total funding: $749.2m
Company benefits
- Wellness: Health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. We also cover some of the cost for your dependents as well.
- Compensation: Full-time Whatnauts receive equity, a WFH stipend to support your remote workspace and a monthly stipend to dogfood the app.
- Recharge: Flexible Time Off policy, holiday week off at the end of year, and paid parental leave after 1 year with us.
- Flexibility: Remote-first work culture. We provide a working environment where you're in charge of your time and schedule.
Company HQ
Marina del Rey, CA
Leadership
Grant LaFontaine
(Co-Founder & CEO)Former Product Marketing Manager at Google, Project Manager at Facebook. Also co-founded Kit.
Logan Head
(Co-Founder)Experience in Engineering, including at Maker's Row, Factr, and Flight Club. Former Senior Product Manager at GOAT.
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